Shining our lights ahead of us we headed for the alcove. And there it was, the painting. I took a step forward and almost tripped over something in the dark. I shone my light down onto the floor and froze.
“Hit the lights somebody,” I ordered. There was some scrambling as everyone felt around for a switch, and then suddenly the room was illuminated and I squinted, letting my eyes adjust.
“Oh my God!” Beth exclaimed.
“Ew!” Caitlin added. It was Gerard and he was very obviously dead with a bullet hole in the center of his forehead.
“Step back,” a strange voice commanded. Looking up I saw that greasy paparazzo that was always covering these fundraisers. Instead of a camera, though, he was holding a gun.
“You!” Beth said sounding surprised.
“Me, and you have very bad timing.”
“This guy is a photographer from the tabloids,” I explained. “I assume he heard us talking about the painting that night and he wants to steal it for himself.”
“Yeah, both Elaine and I heard you talking, but whereas she was just interested in a scoop, I had a bigger interest. That painting was supposed to be mine a long time ago.”
“What do you mean yours?” Caitlin asked sounding petulant.
“Mine. Paul distracted everyone the night the old man died, and I went in and got it. He was supposed to find a buyer for us. The money was going to go to setting me up with my own gallery. I should have known that unfaithful bastard would double cross me.”
“Wait, you’re not saying you were the one that Gerard was seeing?” Beth asked, sounding shocked.
“Ew,” Caitlin added again.
“I don’t have time for this. I’m taking that painting and I’m getting out of here, and I’m taking her with me,” he grabbed Caitlin. There was a moment of silence while we all just stared.
“Okay,” I said and shrugged.
“No! Not okay,” Beth said scowling at me. “Take the painting but leave…”
Before she could finish the lights went out again and a shimmering figure seemed to glide across the room. Just then a ferocious sounding growl came from somewhere, and our thief yelped out in what sounded like pain and terror. Holy shit! This place was haunted!
There was a clattering sound and a thud as he hit the ground and let go of the gun. Then there was more scrambling, and the lights came on again. I don’t know what in the hell I expected to see, a ghost I guess? What I actually did see was Bruce, still in his Charlie Chan outfit, and Bruno with his teeth buried in the photographers ankle. Braden had grabbed the gun and Adam was already calling 911.
Chapter Seventeen
Beth
June
Mark stood with his arm around my waist, out by the pool at my parents’ place. We were laughing at something funny that Adam had just said while watching Braden BBQing up our dinner. Mark and I had been dating for over a month now, and we were very happy together. Braden had gotten comfortable with it, and so had my younger brother, Drew, who had finally graduated from law school and would be joining the Justice Project after taking the summer off to study for the bar exam.
My parents were absolutely thrilled to find out we were a couple, and my father seemed very interested in talking Mark into a political career someday, since at the moment at least, neither one of his sons seemed interested. There was other good news too, Cameron had finally popped the question, and he and Jess would be getting married that fall. Adam and Lily were considering starting a family soon, and I had a feeling that Braden and Gabrielle wouldn’t be far behind. Perhaps the most unexpected news was that Caitlin would be joining our staff soon as a legal secretary. Liz was training her diligently and Liz was a miracle worker. So it seemed that Caitlin would finally have some friends. She also had her painting back, and would be lending it to the art museum.
The paparazzo art thief was facing trial on a number of charges, and while there was a bit of scandal surrounding Gerard’s untimely passing, he had left his estate to charity, so he was largely forgiven.
“Hey man, did you have fun last night?” Mark asked Drew, who had come over.
“Oh yeah, I had a hook-up that I will never forget,” he answered with a laugh.
“And on that note…” I said giving Mark a final squeeze and moved on to go chat with the girls. As it turned out, Drew was right by the way…
The End